This study presents a versatile microfluidic platform designed to streamline particle separation, mixing, and droplet generation in a single, cost-effective device. The platform employs a sinusoidal channel design inspired by surface acoustic wave principles to manipulate fluid flow and particle trajectories. Adjusting flow rates and leveraging wall effects achieves reliable separation of polystyrene microparticles, which is an essential feature for biomedical applications, including drug delivery and diagnostics. Furthermore, the device enables rapid mixing of miscible fluids, facilitated by induced vortices, and high-throughput droplet generation from immiscible solutions such as polycaprolactone and polyvinyl alcohol, which are widely used in drug delivery systems. The incorporation of three-dimensional-printed molds in the fabrication process allows for scalable production, enhancing accessibility for laboratory research. This microfluidic chip offers an efficient solution for fluid manipulation, underscoring its potential in both research and practical applications across biomedical and chemical fields.
Khani et al. (Fri,) studied this question.